Disallowing Eidgah march shows govt’s defeat: JRL

Srinagar, May 21: The joint resistance leadership (JRL) has strongly condemned the government decision of imposing strict restrictions in downtown Srinagar and other parts of city terming it as an acceptance of defeat.

Authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar’s old city and adjacent areas to prevent the march to Eidgah called by the Hurriyat leadership to pay tributes to Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq, Khawaja Abdul Gani Lone and Hawal martyrs on their anniversary.

The JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Muhammad Yasin Malik was kept under house arrest or in jails.

In a statement issued to GNS, JRL said, “That entire nation observed the 28th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed-e-Millat and over 60 martyrs of Hawal massacre, and the 16th anniversary of Shaheed-e-Hurriyat and remembered the sacrifices offered by the great leaders and the people of Kashmir. The complete shutdown observed by people amplifies their commitment to the mission of the martyrs and the ongoing movement and their pledge that no matter how tough the repression goes, people will continue to strive for their rights till the final goal is achieved.”

Condemning the restrictions, the leadership said, “The ruling regime’s fear of people’s power and commitment towards the freedom struggle makes them take these totalitarian measures. The ruling regime doesn’t have the courage to meet us on political turf.”

“No matter how far Delhi and its local collaborators go in unleashing repression, the people have shown that they will continue to follow the cause for which the martyrs sacrificed their life and will at all cost resist the New Delhi’s military might with full strength,” JRL said and denounced authorities for keeping the entire downtown under curfew for the past three days in the holy month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, dozens of resistance leaders including Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, Engineer Hilal Ahmed War and others were placed under house detention.

AAC leaders and activists including Muhammad Shafi Khan, Advocate Yasir Dalal and others tried to take out a protest march from Aali Masjid towards martyrs’ graveyard but were prevented and pushed back, the statement said.

“However, in the majority of shrines, mosques and imambaras across Kashmir, tributes were paid to Shaheed-e-Millat, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat and martyrs of Hawal, after Zuhr prayers,” the statement added. (GNS)